Margaret Fell was popularly known as the “mother of Quakerism.â€
She was born Margaret Askew in Lancashire, England. In 1632,
she married Thomas Fell, a barrister of who later became a judge
and a member of Parliament.
In 1652, Margaret was converted to Quakerism by the preaching
of George Fox, and her home, Swarthmoor Hall, became a center
of Quaker activity continuing after the death of Judge Fell in 1658.
She received and forwarded letters from roving missionaries and
wrote many epistles herself; she was frequently called upon
to intercede on behalf on Quaker leaders and missionaries in case
of persecution or arrest.
Margaret was imprisoned in Lancaster Castle from 1663 to 1668
for allowing Quaker Meetings to be held in her home. She defended
herself by saying that “as long as the Lord blessed her with a home,
she would worship him in it.” While in prison, she wrote religious
pamphlets and epistles. Perhaps her most famous work is
“Women’s Speaking Justified.” a scripture-based argument for
women’s ministry, and one of the major justifications for equal
rights for women in the 17th century.
She married George Fox in 1669. After her marriage, she was again
imprisoned for about a year. Margaret Fox spent most of the rest
of her life at Swarthmoor and continued to take an active part in
the affairs of the Society. She is often credited with helping to
institutionalize the Society of Friends. She died in 1701.
We are offering a scarce and important volume of her writings
which includes her letters, epistles, and tracts, as well as
testimonies of her life from her children, Thomas Camm and Thomas
Dockrey. Many of these have not been reprinted. Also interesting
is that this volume was printed by Jane Sowle, a woman printer
who with her daughter, Tace Sowle, published many of the
early Quaker writings.
Fell, Margaret. A Brief Collection of Remarkable Passages
and Occurrences Relating to the Birth, Education, Life,
Conversion, Travels, Services, and Deep Sufferings of That
Ancient, Eminent, and Faithful Servant of the Lord,
Margaret Fell; But by her Second Marriage, Margaret Fox.
Together With Sundry of Her Epistles, Books, and Christian
Testimonies to Friends and Others; and also to those in
Supreme Authority, in the several late Revolutions of Government.
London: J. Sowle, 1710, 1st edition.
8 vo, 535 pages + index; worn covers, spine neatly repaired
with black cloth, but cloth is now worn with several small holes;
missing front free endpapers, inner hinge broken at page 2,
title page taped at hinge, owner name (John Russell Hayes)
inside cover along with a handwritten list of important dates
in the life of Margaret Askew; missing back free endpaper, paper
browned and foxed, occasional light pencil underlining and a
early few margin marks in pen. Five page catalog of books
published by J. Sowle at the rear. [Smith I:602]
$625.00 including shipping in the US and insurance.
